HutchFan

The Keystone Korner, inside and out: The Five Spot (interior):

Entries from the last two weeks: - George Coleman - At Yoshi's (Theresa/Evidence, 1989) - Anthony Davis, James Newton, Abdul Wadud - Trio² (Gramavision, 1989) - Von Freeman - Walkin' Tuff! (Southport, 1989) - Airto Moreira - Struck by Lightning (Venture, 1989) - Eddie Palmieri - Sueño (Intuition, 1989) - Robertinho Silva - Speak No Evil (Milestone, 1991); originally released as Bodas De Prata (CBS Brazil, 1989)

Disc 1

Next up:

Nice EKE pic. Never seen that one before.

and

Phew! I love this set. "Brown Betty" (not to be confused with "Brown Penny"), featuring trumpeter Nelson Williams as soloist, is one of the many Ellington cuts that weren't hits -- but should've been. Williams' soloing is wonderful, but what really kills me is the ensemble work. The piece has just got so much feeling. It makes me wanna holler. ... And shortly after that gem comes the very first recordings of two more well-known Ellington-Strayhorn pieces: "Smada" and "Rock Skippin' at the Blue Note" -- both from an August 8, 1951 session. Hooray for Ray Nance! Hooray for Paul Gonsalves!

Hampel is someone that I still need to investigate more thoroughly. All those Birth releases aren't exactly easy to find. Then again, there's always listening via the internet, I suppose. (It's not as much fun, though. ) NP: I assume it's a minority viewpoint, but I actually prefer Jobim's subsequent releases with Claus Ogerman -- Jobim aka Matita Perê, Urubu, and Terra Brasilis -- over the LPs arranged by Deodato -- Stone Flower and Tide.

Woohoo! Enjoy! Yes indeed. Christmas in October!

Yes, that CW comp is a gem!

I meant that as something good, not something painful!

Sometimes, you're sitting under the tree and the plum just falls in your lap! Enjoy!

More Schubert lieder from another exquisite singer: Also... various Beethoven piano sonatas performed by Wilhelm Kempff, as heard in this vinyl set: Picked up several of these boxes for peanuts at a library sale a few years back.

Otherworldly.

This is my biggest issue with box sets too. The alt takes, false starts, and (in some cases) chronological programming often make them difficult to absorb. My work-around: If the music was originally released in LP format, I usually create MP3 playlists files to re-create the LP sequencing. I like the idea of albums -- something that artists and/or producers assemble and present in a specific way to create an arc or line for the listener. But that's not what box sets are about. Aside from this this one quibble, I don't regret purchasing any box sets in my collection.

As heard in this set:

Jumpin' In was my long-time favorite Dave Holland from the 80s -- until I heard Seeds of Time for the first time (only just earlier this year). Both are really good. But -- push comes to shove -- I'd put Seeds at the top of the heap today.

Now listening to this LP: Dave Holland Quintet - Seeds of Time (ECM, 1985) Badass. The whole contrapuntal thing is so cool. New Orleans, Mingus, Braxton. It's all in there. Looking at discogs, I see that there are two different versions of this album sleeve. I wonder why. A question of permissions to use the art in different countries, maybe? Who knows. Not relevant to the (terrific) music, of course. But us music nerds, we notice these things.

I assumed that there was more than what was on the original release.

I'm listening to Bill Perkins' Journey to the East again. Sometimes the tried-and-true "Tenor Plus Rhythm" combo works perfectly -- like Goldilocks: not too much, not too little. Just right.

Doh! I've never seen that before!